His jaw worked, but no answer came.

Then the elevator opened and Tommy stepped out holding my sister’s hand.

I stopped talking immediately.

Whatever I felt about his father, my son did not deserve to carry it home.

PART 7

On the drive back, Tommy asked whether our new apartment had a balcony.

I said it had a small one overlooking a courtyard, and he wanted to know whether pigeons could land there.

My sister had found the apartment for us.